Today, I finally got around to officially registering for this year’s NaNoWriMo challenge. Not that it was an urgent task–I still have a few days left before the beginning of November, after all. But it always feels good to go in and get set up for this year’s novel.

For folks who have never done NaNoWriMo, here’s (hopefully) what my profile page looks like. I’ve written a short synopsis of where I think the story’s going to go, though it’s still kind of vague and general at this point. Later, after NaNoWriMo begins, I’ll post an excerpt from the novel (usually the first several paragraphs) in the excerpt section.

Seeing it posted publicly like that somehow makes everything seem more real, more official. It’s as if I’ve announce to the world that, “Hey, I’m writing this book,” and now that I’ve said I’m going to do it, I have to follow through.

It’s also frankly kind of cool to have a book blurb and an author bio posted on the web. Even if it’s for a novel that’s not published. (Yet.)

This will be my fifth NaNoWriMo. I’ve succeeded with all four of my previous attempts. Here’s hoping I can carry through to victory this year as well.

For anyone else who’s participating, my NaNo handle is arwensouth. If you make me your buddy, I’ll reciprocate. Because having buddies, a support network, and a cheering section really does help, at least in my mind.

Now all I have to do is figure out where I left my NaNo hat (a cheap, costume pirate hat that I’ve used in the past as a signal to Beloved Husband that I’m writing and should not be disturbed). And stock up on herbal tea. And find my slippers (because a writer with cold toes is an unproductive writer. Trust me.)